The impact of personality, gender role identity, family role identity, and religious background on the occupational choice of Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jewish women

This quantitative study measured how personality, gender role salience, family role salience, and religious background affect an Orthodox or non-Orthodox Jewish woman's occupational choice in terms of whether or not she chooses care work. Further, it investigated how religious role salience moderates the effect of religious background on this choice. There is a significant body of research regarding career development within the field of human resource development. Generally, theories in this area are either personality-related or identity-related. This study includes both types of theories. Jews are an interesting population, as this group has higher levels of education and occupational attainment than nearly all other sub-populations in the United States. Orthodox Jewish women present a unique population for study because they contend with a variety of distinctions, including religious commitment, ethnicity, and practical/familial considerations, which have some bearing upon their identity formation, and thus, their occupational choice. The current attention to workplace spirituality within the field of management makes this research practically relevant in the human resources, gender and diversity in organizations (or workplace diversity), and organizational psychology domains. The relevance of identity studies makes this research significant in sociological, religious, and women's studies, as well.;For this study, 400 Jewish women were surveyed, 200 Orthodox Jewish women and 200 non-Orthodox Jewish women. Two of the hypotheses tested were confirmed, showing that here is a significant relationship between personality type S and care work as occupational choice for non-Orthodox Jewish women and for Jewish women (Orthodox and non-Orthodox in general). It was also found that there is a significant relationship between gender role identity and care work as occupational choice for Orthodox Jewish women and for Jewish women (Orthodox and non-Orthodox in general).;The results are generalizable to other traditional, conservative groups due to similarities in gender-related characteristics. They add to identity-related theories of career development, as this particular set of variables had not previously been studied together. They are particularly relevant to career development and human resources professionals, as they help identify factors that do and do not influence individuals to choose care work.